Basically, that is all.
Thematically I wonder if after a certain set of turns have passed since he's built his first amphitheater he goes to war. Likely not, bastard will go to war ALWAYS. 2 games in a row now trying for a Catherine science game this SOB spawned next to me and siphons so much of my production and resources in dealing with his bullshit.
He's the literal worst.
Verpiss dich Friedrich.
So I'm sure this isn't uniquely innovative, but still a niche strategy I thought of that'd be fun, and holy shit did it pay off handsomely.
The idea I had was building around Flight II and Industrialization II specifically, for the tourism boost to unique buildings and unique improvements.
Greece > Spain > Mexico
Unique quarters for each in 4 cities, 4 to 6 unique improvements from suzerainties in each city and some larger towns, rail and aerodrome connected with goated diplomacy resulting in the entire world backing me up against Ashoka when he could no longer contain his jealous rage of my wide empire.
Not to mention Xerx's legendary culture/gold output via expansive trade network, boosted further by Spain, and propelled to Divine levels via religious exploitation, finishing exploration with all settlements maintaining my religion and bringing Chesed (founder belief) into modern via triumph (+4 production empire wide)
Sleeper MVP of the game as well was the memento, Poteskwate. Food per age in towns per each suzerainty. INSANITY as I ended antiquity with 4, exploration with 9 and modern with 8. Massive, massive boost.
For anyone who hasn't tried this and wants a fun and extremely powerful culture path, I highly recommend it. First time playing the guy and it was glorious.
Countdown started immediately upon finishing Flight II; had I diverted more resources to scientific infrastructure, this theoretically could have shaved an additional 15-25 turns off the win. I sped through exploration out of fear for Simon's rising innovation, nabbing 3 future civics and foregoing some schoolhouses and universities.
Basically seems impossible on higher difficulties, outside of military. That I can see happening without too much difficulty. Science of course is literally impossible, but culture and eco? Just insanely difficult/resource/map/AI dependent?
Anyone done it, culture or eco win in exploration, and if so, what was your combo and strat to pull it off?
Just lost a Machiavelli (Silla/Chola/Qing) Eco attempt to Pacha Science, starting my countdowns for both eco and military on the same turn with him completing his, the following.
He nuked me btw, never had that happen before, wild stuff. Also, it didn't count as a declaration of war apparently, what's up with that? Lmao
I was ready to throw in the towel on the concept of a warless world, and achieving a peaceful science victory in immortal, but I did it. Himiko, the Queen of Wa(r?) indeed.
Granted...I did reload saves maybe 6 or 7 times, that's fine right? 😅 Normally I don't but I was so flabbergasted at Harriet's unexpected science surge, and didn't wanna give up the fight as I was so close and knocking it out of the park mostly all game.
Pivot point was about turn 65. Couple red herrings that got me. First, Tecumseh was sitting at 95 innovation for days, so I thought him the actual science threat. Wasted space sabotage on him unnecessarily, as he never reached the threshold. Secondly, Harriet was the culture leader, within a 10-point striking distance at the time, and so I initially thought taking out Cleveland (and Chicago) and then Pittsburgh and/or Baltimore was the answer.
Nope, she never reached culture threshold either. What she did do however, was leap up past 100 innovation, seemingly out of nowhere.
SO, after reoptimizing build/tech pathing, slamming her with every sanction and espionage imaginable, while ensuring my endeavors were always active with other leaders, I managed to pull it off with 1 turn to spare.
Hilariously, the first go around, Charlemagne asked for my help in going to war with her (I declined), as I wasn't even in position for that sort of thing. After getting there, I did it myself, taking on the burden of a 10(11) point war weariness from surprise warring her in just the unfriendly state after 1 denouncement. Using my vault of influence I brought it down to just 5, and then 4 weariness, and managed to raze Cleveland.
As you can see here, in the ultimate peaceful finish, I discovered that by leaving Cleveland alive, she eked out a spaceport and aerodrome on that island, which I was ready to pillage, or raze again entirely if necessary.
In the war routes, Ibn Battua joined on her side but ended up being a non-issue and made peace with me relatively easy, after taking Chicago from me after I took it from her (hilarious), or for 120 influence when I had just taken Baltimore instead.
Sorry for the wall of text but wanted to share, as this was one of my most satisfying games, and very fun to go the entire match with zero wars, and allied with everyone, aside from Harriet in modern, as that was necessary. Tecumseh was allied for most of the game, even though he was a war mongering bastard to Ada and Simon the whole of Antiquity and Exploration. I didn't mind really, as that helped me overall, especially with Ada.
This was particularly satisfying after my last game, Culture win with Hatshepsut (Egypt), where I spent the entirety of exploration ridding my continent of the fifth that is Friedrich, for taking two of my key cities in Antiquity, and pushing his tyrant of a partner Ben Franklin further north past my borders.
It sure is hard just trying to play peacefully in this world, but winning while doing so, sure feels nice.
Which leader is the worst AHole?
I know a lot of people shudder at Harriet for her aggressive settling, gaslighting behavior, but what others stand out in your experience?
For me, it has to be Lafayette and Friedrich, with Augustus possibly in third.
Idk why but every game I've had Lafayette in, he always without fail, denounces me early, and liberally, and to avoid war I have to keep spending influence to deny him. He does this, regardless of how I play, where I settle or what I do, like seriously what is that guys problem.
Friedrich is just a fickle dick too I think, and prone to surprise wars.
Augustus, I don't fault too much because I expect it early and he comes around eventually, down being friends seemingly much easier and more often than those other two jerks.
Finally got my first immortal science win 🏆 🙏🏼
Ada GB, ToT. Using her, and GB’s strengths throughout, far more optimally than the first couple times I played her now that I understand everything better, really has me thinking she definitely has to be an S+ leader, top 3 even - at least for science and probably culture as well, but hell, with GB economic or even military would be phenomenal too.
Took Abassid syncretic belief in exploration for the unique quarters in my cities, excellent synergy.
Ended the game at 108 innovation to Jose Rizal’s 53. Simon Bolivar was the only real contender at 15 pts away from culture countdown.
I was definitely grateful to not have any serious snowballing science competitors this game, but even if so I think I might have been fine.
Would you agree that Ada is S+/top 3 territory?
It doesn't work very well, does it? It seems the AI will always prioritize and even go out of their way to attack my settlements and units if they happen to be within a 12-tile radius of the civ I paid them to actually raid. Super annoying and frustrating.
Why isn't Dhammaraja working on this granary, do warehouse buildings not count? Have an ivory camp next to the granary, but no happiness adjacency. Fwiw I also have a woodcutter next to the granary, and by the wording, that should count too since it's an improvement.
So just got my first intentional domination win on immortal with Charlemagne and oh man, this guy is the goat.
Actually, I had won domination as Tecumseh before but that was out of frustration, and Charlemagne definitely felt much more synergized and explosive.
I wanted to go for science as that victory has still eluded me, but his military strength is just too damn good to not go all in on.
Celebration focused, 2 free cav units with every celebration!? That, plus French empire, insane flexibility, outstanding culture output all game, and by the way, mausoleum, holy crap.
Constantly spawning cav units that kept respawning, with mad damage boosts, and extra war support whenever I needed it, truly unstoppable and only rivaled by Genghis I imagine, though I've heard and read that Lafayette has a legendary military game as well.
TLDR: Charlemagne/French/Mausoleum = godlike
Domination def seems to be the easiest victory condition and that's...too bad, but at least it's fun when you're intentionally going for it.
Fun? Funny? Unique?
After Pacha's 2nd failed war attempt, decided I'd refuse all his propositions for peace while I watch his morale crumble. Pretty hilarious. Friedrich even threw in a level of support once I got him to 12 lmao
It's interesting with her having no defined specialization, but the boost to defense with the built-in war support is nice. Her espionage skill is something too I suppose, it's just annoying that there isn't any way as of now to give your spies a better success rate, or is there?
I've been trying for the free migrants all game and only gone undetected once, kinda lame.
At world war and about to net my first immortal win via domination on Tecumseh, Shawnee ToT, and hilariously...just as I sent my fleet commander in to capture Cordoba, Mandalay, who already had a line infantry on one of the districts I destroyed, snuck the capture out from under me somehow lmao It didn't capture until I went in, yet it went to them.
Well, that still helps I suppose lol keeps me from going over the cap for a few more turns at least.
I haven't suzerained them yet unfortunately but will in 2-3 turns.
Hey all, what’s your go to play mode? I always roll random civ, king difficulty, standard speed and size on continents. It’s really fun playing towards whatever civ’s strengths I get on the fly, without too much BS. I also like having the 8 player count, and continents make it feel more “realistic” for immersion and RP.
In all seriousness, this is one of my favorite moments of the show. The voice acting is always incredible, but the animation for this whole episode, the stakes, and given the grave severity of what just happened, this line...
It's heartbreaking really, considering too, how at odds they were with each other at the time. Mark is still a kid basically, with Cecil a type of mentor/father figure, and to have Mark pleading for him, calling out in a moment like this, when all hope seems to be lost, is very sad and poignant.
BMs, taunt spam, teabags, RQs
Can't wait for Tokon to drop, just to siphon the muck.
And to the platinum player who RQ in the 3rd match of our set, denying me the win that I worked my ass off for (gold 2), Allen and Anissa would be ashamed. Powerplex might understand lol
Another day, another jank 😮💨
When reviewing the replay, it checks out, because apparently, I hit the ult 1 frame too early 🤷🏼♂️
Her invincible frames ran out right as marks heel stomped my head. Btw, more detailed frame data would be nice, such as invulnerability frames.
After much consideration, I'm submitting Kate's ult as worst in the game. Hits high so blockable while standing, even though visually, it tracks low, meaning it can slide under certain moves and is easy to miss off bounces. It used to show as a low in move properties but guess they changed it. I've missed her damn ult so many times in match it isn't even funny anymore.
To make up for it, put it back to low, and make it actually function that way. It'd play into her mixup style. She deserves it.
Is it only available through the digital deluxe upgrade? Idc too much about the Conquest/Allen skins but def want the pass and was wondering if this is the only route available for it, as that seems to be the case.
If so that's fine since it's still a pretty solid value, like $3-4 for each character, accounting for the extra cosmetics/skins too.
Also, it's looking like fall release will be Angstrom and winter, Agent Spider, right? Very exciting. Especially stoked for Angstrom and Immortal.
I thought armor had a specified number of hits to break. Doesn't it for everyone else? Wth. It does for Allen and Kate anyway.
You live you learn.
Btw apparently this move has armor break too even though it doesn't say so in the move list. Guess that makes it impenetrable except to other armor break moves.
Hilarious glitch I got during a particularly laggy match after hitting her Lvl 3 on Anissa. Things were never the same. Until I hit it again anyway 🤷🏼♂️
The crazy thing is it happened during the match prior, and carried over into the rematch.